This thread is absolutely horrible for someone just trying to figure out what the heck happened. One side is throwing any and everything at the wall, desperate for something to stick. The other side just puts their hands over their ears, laughs at the hilarity of it all and downplays the whole thing. Maybe one of the two sides is right. I'd just be interested to know what a "center" viewpoint would be.
A "center" viewpoint would be this:
1. The State Department screwed up. The screw up MAY have contributed to the deaths, or may not have- we'll never be certain of it.
2. The screw up was most likely low level, for the logical reason that high level officials (like Obama and Hillary) don't have time to bother with diplomatic security issues. However, there was likely a cover-up of the screw-up, and this went a little higher (still very unlikely that it reached high levels.)
3. The Republican party is trying to use this story to embarrass the Obama Administration, and in particular Hillary Clinton, whom they fear will be the next Democratic candidate. To the GOP, this is just a partisan game; if this story did not exist, they would find or create another one to embarrass the White House. If a Republican were in the White House, the Democrats would find a story to attack the Republican.
There has not been a Presidency, either Republican or Democrat, without at least two or more scandals in my lifetime. Usually it's an average of one every couple of years.
4. To the conservative base. this is NOT a game. They believe this is a serious issue which may (they hope) bring down the President. They are encouraged to this belief by talk show hosts, the Internet, and various conspiracy theories. The hope that Obama will be brought down is somewhat contradicted by another belief, just as strong, that the "liberal media" will cover up the truth and never allow Obama to be brought down.
5. Tommy has it exactly right: because of the partisan nature of Congress, there's no way to have a fair hearing. Somebody DID do something wrong here- I don't believe on purpose, though it's possible. But we'll never going to find out who and why, and these hearings are really a big waste of taxpayer money IMO.